Blacklist Scripts: The Complete Guide

In this post, we’re going to unravel some of the confusion surrounding the Blacklist among aspiring screenwriters. We’ll be looking at questions like:

♦ What is the Blacklist?

♦ What’s the difference between the Blacklist and the Blacklist website?

♦ How do I get my script on the Blacklist?

So let’s dive right on in.

What Is the Blacklist?

The Blacklist is a yearly roundup of the best unproduced screenplays doing the rounds in Hollywood, as voted for by producers.

It was started by an executive named Franklin Leonard back in 2005. He came up with the idea of forwarding a spreadsheet of the best unproduced scripts to fellow producers in the business.
The concept took off immediately, and many scripts have since graduated from the Blacklist to become well-known movies. The King’s Speech and Juno are two examples.

This Blacklist is a completely different entity from the Blacklist website which followed years later…

What Is the Blacklist Website?

The Blacklist website is a site where aspiring screenwriters can (for a fee) upload their screenplays. Industry people who’ve also opted into the site, can then read and vote on them.

This online voting system means the writer is able to watch as their script climbs or falls down the ranking. It’s a good way of tracking the progress of your writing. But, obviously, your main aim should be to get your script on the original Blacklist that circulates Hollywood.

As you probably know there’s no magic bullet when it comes to screenwriting. When it comes to getting your screenplays on the Blacklist, though, there’s one key piece of advice we recommend you take…

Read Blacklist Scripts

It sounds obvious, but far too few aspiring screenwriters actually put it into practice. If you want to get your screenplay on the Blacklist, you need to be reading scripts that are already on it.

Reading scripts that made the Blacklist will help you keep abreast of what’s hot in Hollywood and the kind of standard you need to reach.

If you want to succeed as a screenwriter, you need to read screenplays all the time. And Blacklist scripts are a great way of doing this. It will help keep your finger on the pulse of Hollywood and you’ll pick something up from each script you read.

Read Blacklist Loglines

As well as reading scripts on the Blacklist, we also recommend that you read all of the loglines of the scripts that make it onto the list.

This will also teach you how to write a logline and is an invaluable way of getting the creative juices flowing if you’re trying to come up with a concept for your next screenplay.

You will find all the loglines to screenplays that made it onto the Blacklist over the last few years here:

Where to Download Blacklist Scripts

Unfortunately, you can’t download scripts on the Blacklist from their website, but if you type “download blacklist scripts” into a search engine, you should be able to locate a few. Here are some resources to get you started:

Conclusion

Getting a script on the Blacklist takes a dedication to the craft of screenwriting and knowing how to write a screenplay that’s good enough to compete with the best.

Reading scripts on the Blacklist will help get your writing chops up to speed. You should also be reading as many pro screenplays online as you can. Watch how your screenwriting ability improves exponentially and soon you may find your own screenplay on the Blacklist.

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Have you ever had a script on the Blacklist? Do you know the easiest way to download Blacklist scripts? How many have you read and what did you think of them? Let us know in the comments section below.